President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye strongly condemned Israel over its attacks on Lebanon, stating that the country is committing crimes against humanity.
According to Korrekt.az, Erdoğan stated at a joint press conference held at the Presidential Complex in Ankara following his one-on-one meeting and delegation-level talks with the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, that the first presidential-level official visit from Lebanon to Türkiye in 17 years marked an important milestone in bilateral relations, also expressing his appreciation for Joseph Aoun’s efforts to enhance security and stability in his country.
Erdoğan highlighted that Türkiye would remain firmly committed to supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, adding that the discussions covered not only bilateral relations but also Israel’s military operations in southern Lebanon and the latest developments across the region in detail.
The President of Türkiye noted that Lebanon had long suffered from the consequences of regional conflicts, emphasising that restoring stability in the country was of critical importance not only for the region but also for the international community.
Erdoğan said that Ankara will continue its efforts for Lebanon, aimed at delivering humanitarian and technical assistance and strengthening state institutions. He added that they welcome the dialogue that has developed between Lebanon and Syria and that they are poised to contribute to the normalisation of relations between the two countries.
President Erdoğan regarded the completion of the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as an important development, noting that Türkiye is ready to be involved in international initiatives to ensure Lebanon’s security and will also maintain its support for the Lebanese Armed Forces following the withdrawal of the current international force.
Stressing the severe humanitarian consequences of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Erdoğan said, "Israel is committing crimes against humanity," adding that the attacks caused the deaths of over 4,300 people, left more than 2,000 wounded, and displaced approximately 1 million people from their homes.
The President of Türkiye said that Türkiye has been among the countries that most strongly condemned Israel's assaults from the onset of the conflict and that they support diplomatic initiatives to end the occupation, emphasising that Türkiye is ready to offer any support for the reconstruction of Southern Lebanon, which has been intensely affected by the Israeli attacks.